installing a cruising spinaker

[bonati]

Hi,

I am thinking on installing a cruising spi ( assimetrical , genaker any name) in my 1997 Mac 26X and have zero experience on that matter. When I start to think on it I get a couple of doubts , which I would like to share with more experienced members :

1) adequate dimensions ( basically luff lenght and sail area )

2) how to fix the tack point on the bow in Mac ; I do not see much room there and there is already a genoa furler ; I guess poblems at hoisting and going down ...

Well, hope to get some advice , in any case thks in advance for reading

[grady]

Best answer to #2 is a bow sprit. Figure that out first. Then figure out where the halyard is to be run. Once you get all that information then give it to the sail maker and they will give you the answer to #1.

I am sure some other members with your type of boat will give you more ideas on tack location.

[Tomfoolery]

I use the second hole in the stem fitting, with the forestay in the aft-most hole. Many folks just use a short pendant from that hole to the tack fitting, but I use an adjustable tack, which runs back to the cockpit.

I also use a second hound on the mast, about 18" higher than the jib hound. I don't even have a jib halyard any more, as the spinnaker halyard does double-duty with the MRS. The jib winds onto the FFII furler, which has its own halyard, so no more jib halyard.

The lateral component of the spinnaker load on the stem fitting can bend it sideways, so parrel beads or an ATN Tacker or something like that.

Or a bow sprit, which is the best, but takes the most effort to initially install.

[Seapup]

I am thinking on installing a cruising spi ( assimetrical , genaker any name) in my 1997 Mac 26X and have zero experience on that matter. When I start to think on it I get a couple of doubts , which I would like to share with more experienced members :

My 2 cents on is just start cheap and simple with downwind sails if you are not racing, you will be starting in low winds and learning as you go. Don't hold off because new sails and hardware setups can be expensive or complex. Get something used, put it up, and then learn how it works firsthand and go from there. My first used spinnaker was under $100 and I flew it without buying any hardware, just a halyard at the furler top, dock cleat at the bottom, and 1 sheet that I ran around every jibe. It worked well enough I was addicted and eventually had a half dozen down wind sails, bow spirit and furler on my If I would have held out for a better setup I may have never done it and certainly wouldn't have learned near as much or had near the fun.


1. 22-27' luff and 15-20' foot. The smaller end is easier to start with, especially if you don't have a spirit or raised halyard.

[bonati]

thks you all for the ideas ; bow sprit seems certainly the more elegant and effective solution , also at regards of good use of spi. I however use with the anchor rather frequently and this puts to me some lay out problems meaning modifications, retrofitting etc all those things which I try to avoid... Still , inspired by the suggestion of Tomfoolery , with the bow fitting for the forestay having a multiholed plate plate ( as a thick tang) bolted between both holes and projected forward some 8cm ( 3+") while fixing the forestay in the aft hole this could give enough rooom for the tack fixation ..

I was also thinking of using the front bow part ( or mast fixation bracket) on the bow pulpit of the 26X , but I fear of how resistant this will be ; in any case I am thinking on around 28 sqm ( some 300 sqfeet?) sail area and in 15 kt wind this may not be so demanding..


your views?

thks again

[sailboatmike]

Am I getting the setup wrong for the Assy, I would think a turning block on a spare forestay fitting hole and a tack line so you can lift the tack above the pullpit, the tack line leading back to the cockpit.

So at no point is the spinnaker actually attached to the boat, just the tack line at the tack, halyard at the head and sheets on the clew, if you have a spinnaker halyard (which I presumed all X's had) and spring blocks on your cockpit combings then all you need is a turning block up at the bow and some lines

[Seapup]

Am I getting the setup wrong for the Assy, I would think a turning block on a spare forestay fitting hole and a tack line so you can lift the tack above the pullpit, the tack line leading back to the cockpit.

So at no point is the spinnaker actually attached to the boat, just the tack line at the tack, halyard at the head and sheets on the clew, if you have a spinnaker halyard (which I presumed all X's had) and spring blocks on your cockpit combings then all you need is a turning block up at the bow and some lines

That will work fine.